Lesbian judge confirmed to US Court of Federal Claims

Elaine Kaplan, an out lesbian, was voted by the Senate, 64-35, to be a judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims on September 17. President Barack Obama nominated Kaplan in March for the position. She was previously the acting director of the United States Office of Personnel Management.

Kaplan “helped guide the process of extending marriage-related benefits to gay and lesbian federal employees and their spouses after the U.S. Supreme Court declared section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional,” during her time as OPM director, according to Advocate. Before that she headed the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, appointed to by former president Bill Clinton in 1998.